skills
Electives 2021
Oakes prides itself on offering more than the traditional curriculum and Lockdown has prevented many of our students to getting enrichment opportunities we know they love. So until the Summer holidays, every fortnight, Oakes students have signed up to try a new subject, activity or challenge. Today Oakes students experienced their second elective session for this term.
Oakes tutors have created workshop sessions that develop new skills, explore new interests and appreciate the joy of learning without the daily academic pressures of studying A-Levels and vocational qualifications.
This year, thanks to the wide-ranging talents and expertise of our Sixth Form Tutors, we were able to offer a fantastic variety of courses:
- Personal Training Programmes
- Art Instillation
- Zidisha – Micro Finance
- Portrait Photography
- Creative Writing
- Football
- Table Top game design
- Bike repair
- Dance
- Documentary making
- EPQ
- Netball
- Makaton
Makaton has been popular; it is a language programme that uses signs and symbols to help people communicate It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression. One student, Izzi , reported that “Makaton was really interesting. We learnt basic conversation starters today and I’m looking forward to role playing with Makaton in the future”.
The bike repair and maintenance course was extremely useful for Cambridge students. Oakes student, Victor, really enjoyed it and commented, “I thought it was an interesting session and was nice learning new skills. I was able to fix the brakes on my bike and I’m glad I now can cycle safely!”
Some students chose workshops which they felt would help support their study skills in their current studies. Harvey, who took part in the portrait photography shared, “We went on a walk to find new and interesting places to take portrait photos. It really got me thinking about changing my style and finding new ways to add to my portfolio”
It has been lovely to hear from students about the exciting opportunities they’ve engaged in. Amy who took the documentary course expressed that she found it a “good to mix and work with other students.” Students enjoyed the content of the different courses but also gained from socialising and networking with people they did not usually meet on a daily basis. There were also other benefits including strengthening UCAS applications, taking new challenges and having some quality time away from academic studies.